The Portland daily press., 1887-09-27

The Annual Meeting Held at Recep-
ton HALL Last Evening.
Addresses by Rev. MR.. Blanchard,
Mrs. Stone, and Or. Blackwell.
strenuous Endeavors Promised to
Isecure the Ballot In Maine.

Inc annual meeting Of the Maine Woman
Suffrage Association. held in Reception Hall
City Building, last evening, was called 10 or.
der at 7.45 o'clock by the president. Rev.
Henry Blanchard, who called upon Or. L p.
Warren to invoke the Divine blessing. Az
ter the prayer the election Of officers took
place with the following result:
Presldent-Rev. Henry Blanchard Portland.
| vice fresldents-Ex-Gov Frederick RObie
HON. Thomas sxSsN Rssd sslsop p,ingey Lewiston,
Deyol, Portland; Mrs. @. A. Quinby. Augusta /:
Judge samuel Tlteomb, Augusta; Mrs. Usher
Corresponding seeretary-Mrs. Charles Davis,
Recording secretary-Miss L. +. DOnnerl Port.
Ireasurer-Mrs. DIR. Hersom, Portland.
Executive Committee-The President Secreta-
res re and treasurer exofficio, Mrs. Margaret T.
w. Merrill Dr. II. II. aerrish, Mrs. 4. N. NJ ste
yens' Mrs. L. j. WBrien, and Mr.. II. w. Humph-
After the election Of officers Mr.. Blanch-
ard addressed the audience. The following
Is an abstract Of his address:
ADDRESS OF REV. HENRY BLANCHARD.
Mr.. Blanchard first extended a hearty
welcome TO all persons present He hoped
some OF tnese were representatives Of those
VINO were not yet converted TO the doc
trine OF giving the ballot 10 women. For he
would fain believe that the inhabitants of
Portland were sufficiently broad minded 10
De ready TO hear worthy advocates OF causes
which they were not yet ready to accept
He was proud 10 intoduce the speakers Of
the evening. Their worth, their ability.
tnelr conservation were well known 10 All
students OF reform. The association In the
past year bad Increased In numbers, but he
desired to see much larger list Of members.
The executive committee had endeavored 10
arouse interest by public meetings. It had
asked the Legislature 10 submit an amend
ment TO the constitution granting the fran
chise 10 woman. Though the measure did
not receive the necessary twO-thirds vote, It's
ture
la the year to come, strenuous endeayors
would be made 10 influence the legislators 10
oe elected In September, 1888. The associa-
tlon would endeavOr 10 secure the Organiza-
ton OF a local woman suffrage association In
every town OF the Commonwealth. IL hoped
TO ind an agent In the field early In the
spring OF 1888. Money would be needed.
He urged hearty cooperation with the New
England Bazaar to be held in Boston next
December
He appealed to thoughtful men everywhere
TO study anew the great question which this
association desires to bring topublic atten-
tlon. DO not ask me to give thought to the
subject" said one to a worker in our cause.
we Sunragists believe that some have given
thought 10 this great subject. but we know
that many have not. Have you studied this
nent. mo, have not. / am opposed to 1t
instinctively." We ask for opposition, IL
that must be, from thOughtfulness.
lie would ask men to show themselves
cnivalrle towards women. One had said. II
am In favor of woman suffrage, but my fam
lily are not | feel that my ballot, II the
question were submitted. ought TO be given
Tor the four against rather than for myself."
why may not other men be willing 10 repre-
sent the two or four who are in favor Of
WOmau'Q VotinO huf
even II they, themselves, are opposed ?' You
are very enthusiastic about woman suffrage,
Mr. blanchard" said a lady friend. mo"
was the answer, Il am enthusiastic for re-
H9lon am enthusiastic for education; but
Oelieye In woman suffrage" Believing
thus he would do all that he could to advance
the cause. He believed that 10 was Of tran
scendent importance. The more he studied
the more earnest he became. IL he had time
and strength he should be glad TO speak in
all parts Of the State He hoped to ind able
eo-workers throughout the Commonwealth,
who would stand up to be counted" and
try to enlist others TO serve the cause Of wO-
men @ @SnifEAGs stteeaarta Dfeipabes talse
popular" said a distinguished statesman. Il
tory"
Whether it is popular or not, he 1s-xeady
TO stand Tor 1t, to pray for 1t, to work for f.
In subOrdinatiOn to the great work Of his Of
nee as minister Of God. To plead for free
dom, 70 secure justice. Is part Of the work Of
that ministry. As servant Of God and dis
eiple OF Jesus Christ, he felt 1t to be his duty
to give some Of his time and strength to that
special work In which the association Is en-
gagged, ito establish justice" SO run the
words In the preamble to the constitution Of
the Commonwealth CT Maine.
Mr.. Blanchard then introduced Mrs Lucy
Stone, who was warmly received by the au-
dience.
MRS. STONES ADDRESS.
Mrs. Stone spoke in forcible manner, and
told many stories which aptly Illustrated the
theme on which she was speaking. She
spoke OF the injustice Of the laws in not
allowing women the right 30 vote, and said
that she did not believe that the majority Of
men were opposed TO woman suffrage or
would class them with conVicts, pauDers and
fools, who were not allowed TO vote. "rhe
vote OF women Is needed to make our laws
they should have voice In the things that
directly concern them; yet our constitution
says they shall not; they should have the
right to be the guardians Of their children,
but the constitution Of many States says
they shall not. In Massachusetts we fought
long time before law could be passed Civ
ing women the right TO be guardians over
their own children. Some say politics Is a
dirty pool, but says Mr.. Douglas, what
makes 1t so? Women have nothing 10 do
with IL. Some women are terrified because
they have heard that politics are so bad. and
say they don't want to vote; but 1t would
not pc 50 II they voted. Any place where
Men are tempted to vote In a way that Is
not right, they vote for things that will ruin
their children. Mothers will never do this.
Give women chance to vote and we will
have better laws and better legislation. The
worst thing the nation could do TO Jefferson
Davis was to deprive him Of his vote and Il
Is the worst thing 1t can do TO women.
Maine must not lag behind in this great
movement, she already has many good laws
for women. Ladies, l want you 10 help
yourselves and the time will yet come when
we will have the full right Of suffrage"
Mr.. Blanchard then introduced Dr. Black
well, who spoke as follows;
DR. BLAcKwELL's SPEECH
81 am very glad TO speak in Maine on wo-
man suffrage, and think Maine should be
one Of the first to give women the right to
vote. Your people are more largely Ameri-
can, and are more generally educated than
in any other OF the Northern States, and
they should have chance TO vote. All we
ask is to give the matter fair trial, and II
woman suffrage once proves Itself benefit
twill never be repealed. Wherever women
have had a right 70 vote that right has never
been repealed. In places where they have
had the right to vote they have voted
In greater proportion than the men.
Give them chance and ask them, and they
will vote. A woman's life. a wOman's prop
to her as they are to men; yet she Is denied
the right TO protect them. do not say that
women want to vote because Ii Is a pleasure,
but because II Is duty, and man Is an
usurper Of the rights Of women so long as he
refuses them this privilege. Their votes viii
tend to law and order, and they are needed
| TO help those Of men in making good govern
ment. The movement for woman suffrage
| Is greater than the movement for anfi-
slavery was, and believe that it will end as
successfully"
Mr.. Blackwell closed his speech with an
appropriate quotation from Whittier. and
after few final remarks by Mr. Blanchard
the meeting adjourned.
The meeting was attended by about one
hundred persons, and all appeared to be
much interested in the speeches that we're
made; A number OF new members have
joined the association, which Is doing ali in
its power In behalf Of the rights Of women.